Meudon

Meudon (French pronunciation: [mødɔ̃] (listen)) is a municipality in the southwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is in the département of Hauts-de-Seine. It is located 9.1 km (5.7 mi) from the center of Paris.

Meudon
Commune
Observatory of Meudon
Coat of arms
Paris and inner ring départements
Location of Meudon
Meudon
Paris and inner ring départements
Meudon
Meudon (Île-de-France (region))
Coordinates: 48°48′44″N 2°14′17″E
CountryFrance
RegionÎle-de-France
DepartmentHauts-de-Seine
ArrondissementBoulogne-Billancourt
CantonMeudon
IntercommunalityGrand Paris
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Denis Larghero (UDI)
Area
1
9.90 km2 (3.82 sq mi)
Population
 (2017-01-01)[1]
45,352
 • Density4,600/km2 (12,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
92048 /92190, 92360
Elevation28–179 m (92–587 ft)
(avg. 103 m or 338 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Geography

The town of Meudon is built on the hills and valleys of the Seine. The wood of Meudon lies for the most part to the west of the town. The northwest part of Meudon, overlooking the Seine, is known as Bellevue ("beautiful view").

History

At Meudon, the argile plastique clay was extensively mined in the 19th century. The first fossil of the European diatryma Gastornis parisiensis was discovered in these deposits by Gaston Planté.

Archaeological sites show that Meudon has been populated since Neolithic times.

The Gauls called the area Mol-Dum (sand dune), and the Romans Latinized the name as Moldunum.

The handsome Galliera Institutions, on the hill of Fleury, were founded by the duchess of Galliera for the care of aged persons and orphans. The buildings were completed in 1885.

The old castle of Meudon was rebuilt in Renaissance style in the mid-sixteenth century. It was bought by Louis XIV as a residence for Louis, le Grand Dauphin, under whom Meudon became a center of aristocratic life. After the death of le Grand Dauphin in 1711 the château was neglected, emptied in the Revolutionary sales, and finally burned at the close of the Franco-Prussian War, 1871, while it was occupied by Prussian soldiers. A branch of the Paris Observatory was founded in 1877 on the ruins. The Meudon town hall is about 43 m (141.08 ft) in altitude above that of Paris and the climb from there to the observatory offers some rewarding views of Paris.

Automotive pioneering

Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot, the inventor of the 'world's first automobile', is reported to have carried out some early trials at Meudon in the early 1770s.

Pioneering aviation

Chalais-Meudon was important in the pioneering of aviation, initially balloons and airships, but also the early heavier-than-air machines. A Corps d'Aérostatiers under the command of Jean-Marie-Joseph Coutelle was established in 1794, its balloons being used at the Battle of Fleurus. 'Hangar Y' (at 48.7977°N 2.233°E / 48.7977; 2.233) was built in 1880 at the request of the military engineer Captain Charles Renard (1847–1905), for the construction of balloons and airships. The building is 70 m (230 ft) long, 24 m (79 ft) wide and around 26 m (85 ft) high. The airship La France, designed by Renard and Arthur Krebs, was built in Hangar Y in 1884 and was the first airship which was controllable during flight and which could return to its starting point.[2]

Economy

Although a choice residential district, access to the railway (RER) and the Seine river have made Meudon a manufacturing center since the 1840s. Metal products and military explosives have been continuously produced there since then.

Scientific facilities

In addition to the Observatory, what is today ONERA, a national aerospace research institute and wind tunnel has been present since the military opened its aerostatic (lighter-than-air) field in the Chalais park in 1877. From 1921 to 1981 the Air Museum was located here until it moved to Le Bourget Airport.

CNRS has a campus in Bellevue.

Public transport
Meudon Val Fleury Station

Meudon is well served by public transport operated jointly by the SNCF and the RATP.

Réseau Express Régional (RER) – Line C

Meudon is served by line C of the RER by Meudon – Val Fleury station.

Transilien – Line N

Meudon is also served by the Transilien Line N through Meudon station and Bellevue station.

Tramway – T2 and T6

The T2 tramway line links Pont de Bezons station to Porte de Versailles station. It stops by La Défense. Meudon is served by Brimborion and Meudon-sur-Seine stations.

The T6 tramway line runs from Châtillon to Viroflay. Meudon is served by Georges Millandy and Meudon la Forêt stations.

Buses

Meudon is served by twelve lines of the RATP bus network, that have numerous stops in the city:

The area was once served by the Bellevue funicular, a model of which is in the local Museum of Art and History.

Education

Public schools:

  • Three groups of preschools and elementary schools[3]
  • Nine standalone preschools[4]
  • Six standalone public elementary schools[5]
  • Three junior high schools: Collège Armande Béjart, Collège Bel Air, Collège Rabelais[6]
  • Two senior high schools: Lycée Rabelais and Lycée des métiers Les Côtes de Villebon[6]

Private schools:

  • One junior and senior high school Institut Notre-Dame[6]
  • One elementary school through junior high school [7]
  • Three preschools-elementary schools[7]

International relations
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in France

Meudon is twinned with:[8]

  • Coat of arms at twin town Celle (Germany), granite artwork below signpost

Personalities

See also

References
  1. "Populations légales 2017". INSEE. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  2. Ville de Meudon, Aviation, Archdeacon and Wright No 3 Archived 2009-03-01 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "Écoles maternelles." Meudon. p. 1–2. Retrieved on September 7, 2016.
  4. "Écoles maternelles." Meudon. p. 1. Retrieved on September 7, 2016.
  5. "Écoles élémentaires." Meudon. p. 1. Retrieved on September 7, 2016.
  6. "Collèges et lycées." Meudon. Retrieved on September 7, 2016.
  7. "Écoles maternelles." Meudon. p. 2. Retrieved on September 7, 2016.
  8. "Jumelages". meudon.fr (in French). Meudon. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  9. l'Association pour la Sauvegarde de l'Orgue de Marcel Dupré Archived 2011-04-03 at the Wayback Machine
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